Closure device



Oct. 25, 1966 o. H. HOFFMANN CLOSURE DEVICE Filed April 29, 1964 INVENTOR. OTTO H. HOFFMANN BY Md United States Patent 3,280,422 CLOSURE DEVICE Otto H. Hoffmauu, 330 Douglass St., Wyomissing, Pa. Filed Apr. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 363,524 8 Claims. (Cl. 16-121) This invention relates to hardware used in association with closure devices, and, more particularly, to hardware for use in connection with sliding door closure assemblies of the type wherein a plurality of panels are mounted along vertically spaced apart guideways for relative sliding movement with respect to each other.

Sliding closure devices of this type find many applications in buildings, such as for use in doors for closets, doors for medicine cabinets, and closures for showers or like applications involving exposure to water.

While any number of individual door panels may be used in sliding relationship with each other, depending upon the area of the entranceway to be enclosed, this invention will be described, for convenience, only with regard to a pair of sliding doors, it being understood that the scope of this invention is broad enough to include any number of such functionally related doors.

In describing a pair of door panels in connection with this invention, the outboard door that slides over the other door will be referred to as the forward door, and the other, or inboard door, will be referred to as the rearward door. Also, the term outside as applied to the edge of either door will refer to that edge that normally contacts the door jamb when the doors are in their closed position, and the term inside as applied to the edge of either door will refer to the other edge that is substantially in a mid position when the sliding doors are in their closed position.

A common annoyance that results in the use of sliding doors of the type described arises from the fact that the doors may be slid into an overlapping or crossed position with respect to each other, thus making it difiicult to obtain a grip on the rearward door to move it without first adjusting the position of the forward door. Also, as most door pulls are recessed into the door so that their outermost portions are flush with the front surfaces of the doors, it is possible to pinch ones fingers while they are engaged in the door pull of the rearward door and relative motion between the forward and rearward doors takes place.

As a solution to the problem of having the doors enter into an overlapping or crossed position with respect to each other, door stops have been attached to sliding doors. As an example of these door stops, reference is made to US. Letter Patent 2,815,543, where a common type bumper, designated 27 in FIG. 3, is shown. Note that this bumper is adapted to be fastened to the back side of the forward door so that it will engage the inside edge of the rearward door. This prevents the two doors from bypassing or overlapping each other. While bumpers of this sort are effective, they are frequently omitted, and may be a nuisance to install since they must be attached from the inside of the closet or other closure.

Flush type door pulls also are somewhat unsatisfactory in that they do not provide a comfortable and secure grip. Grips other than the flush type have been proposed that protrude from the door and are illustrated, for example, in US. Letters Patent 3,052,930. These type door pulls leave much to be desired at times, for when the doors are forcibly slid open, it is possible for the inside edge of the forward door to fracture or otherwise damage the door pull on the rearward door. Also, the use of such devices may result in pinched fingers as mentioned above.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel door pull for use in association with sliding doors that prevents the doors from overlapping or completely bypassing each other.

it is another object of this invention to provide a door pull for use in connection with sliding doors that will provide a comfortable and secure grip.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a combination door pull and door stop for use in connection with sliding doors that will protect the fingers of the operator from being pinched when the doors are moved in relationship to each other.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a combination door pull and door stop that is rugged and will withstand forcible banging of the doors.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a door pull fixture for a sliding door that is easy to install, is attractive, and will act as a combination door pull and door stop.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a combination door pull and door stop for use in connection with sliding doors that will not mar the edges of the doors or the door jambs.

Briefly, the objects of this invention are achieved by providing a door pull that is characterized in that the pull is provided with oppositely disposed exterior surfaces adapted to contact the door jarmb and the inside edge of the forward door respectively when the rearward door is in the closed position, and in that a central safety zone is provided between said oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to receive at least one digit of the human hand.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a pair of sliding doors fitted with a door pull constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a door pull of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a door pull constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a door pull constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still yet another embodiment of a door pull constructed in accordance with this invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is generally illustrated a forward sliding door 2 and a rearward sliding door 3. Both doors are mounted in track 4 (this track is sometimes desired, but is not essential) to guide their path at their bottoms, and are hung at their upper edges by means of track and roller devices (not shown).

The rearward door 3 has attached to its outer surface a combination door pull and door stop device 5 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. This combination door pull and door stop is comprised of a stern portion 6, a vertically disposed member 7, and a horizontally disposed member 8. The vertically disposed member 7 and horizontally disposed member 8 intersect, preferably adjacent their mid portions, to form a cross. The support member 6 is held positioned against the rearward door by means of a screw or bolt (not shown) and projections (not shown) that anchor into the door. The support member 6 extends sufficiently far out to position horizontal member 8 and its end pieces 9a and db so that end member 9a is aligned to engage a central portion of inside edge 10 of outer door 2 and end member 9b to engage the door jamb (not shown) when the rearward door is in its closed position. Preferably, end member 911 may be provided with a rubber tip or cushion.

From the above description of the device shown in FIG. 1, it may be appreciated that the door pull 5 will prevent the forward sliding door 2 from overlapping or crossing rearward sliding door 3. This is due to contact of the forward door 2 at its inside edge It with extension 9a of crosspiece 8. Further, even though forward door 2 is opened with sufficien-t velocity to bring it into forcible contact with extension 9a, no torsional moments will be placed upon the door pull, as extension 9b will abut securely against and be supported by the door jamb when the rearward door is in its closed position.

Also, it will be appreciated that when cross members 7 and 8 are engaged by the digits of the human hand, not only is a firm grip provided, but also the digits are positioned within a safety zone defined by the extremities of end members 9a and 9b, thus insuring that they will not be pinched when one door is moved with respect to the other door.

In FIGS. 2 through 5, other embodiments of the door pull of this invention are illustrated, all having the same functional elements as described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, in FIG. 2, a ring, which may be circular or elliptical, is formed, providing surfaces 29a and 2% which may engage the inside edges of the forward door and the door jarnb respectively. The open area generally denoted at 27 provides a safety region for grasping the door pull, as well as protecting the digits of the hand from being pinched by the motion of the doors.

In FIG. 3, a device quite similar to FIG. 2 is shown, except that the device is somewhat in the shape of a hollow diamond. Surfaces 39a and 3% are designed to engage the inside edges of the forward door and the door jamb respectively. Also, a central area 37 is provided for safely positioning the fingers and, at the same time, providing a secure grip.

In FIG. 4, a device is shown somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 1 in which horizontal crosspieces are provided at opposite ends of a vertical crosspiece 47. In this figure, mounting screws 45a are shown, and it is to be understood that similar mounting devices should be provided with the door pullls shown in the other views. In the device of FIG. 4, end portions 49a and 4% may be comprised of a rubber bumper that may simply he slid over horizontal members 48, as is the case with horizontal members 8 and end members a and 9b of FIG. 1. Provision for such rubber bumpers will act as a cushion when the door pull is brought in contact with the inside edge of the forward door as at 49a or the door jarnb as at 4919 to absorb shock, and thus avoid excessive noise and marring of the door or door jamb. Note that the central vertical member 47 is suitable as a finger grip and, v

at the same time, will protect the hand digits from being pinched by relative motion of the doors.

In FIG. 5, a device similar to that shown in FIG. 3 is shown, except that this door pull is roughly made in the form of an open square or rectangle. In this case, the vertical members 57 of the device are provided with vertically disposed slots adapted to receive a bead molded into rubber bumpers 59a and 5%. As mentioned with respect to the device shown in FIG. 4, these bumpers serve as a cushion when the device is brought in contact either with the inside edge of the forward door at 59a or the door jamb at 5%.

The materials with which these devices may be constructed is not critical. manufacture devices such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 out of resilent materials that will yield slightly as a cushion when the door pull becomes pinched between the inside edge of the forward door and the door jarnb. In this regard, many plastics would prove quite satisfactory. On

It may, however, be desirable to the other hand, devices such as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 may be provided with resilient bumpers such as at 9a and 91), 49a and 49b, and 59a and 59b, and therefore conveniently may be fabricated out of metals such as brass, bronze, copper, stainless steel and the like, as well as wood and plastics.

In addition to the above advantages. to door pulls manufactured in accordance with this invention, it is also noteworthy that these door pulls may be installed simply, with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. Essentially only one or two holes need be drilled in the door and screws or bolts inserted therethrough and screwed into engaging contact with the stern portions of the door pulls.

I claim:

1. In a door pull adapted for use with sliding doors, comprising oppositely disposed bearing surfaces adapted to engage the inside edge of a forward door on one of said bearing surfaces and the door jamb on the other of said bearing surfaces, and a safety region disposed within the horizontal extent of said bearing surfaces, said safety region being adapted to provide a grip for the digits of the human hand and to prevent such digits from being contacted by said door jarnb and said inside edge of the forward door when the digits are engaged in gripping relationship with said door pull.

2. A door pull according to claim 1 in which said hearing surfaces are comprised of a resilient material.

3. A door pull according to claim 2 in which said resilient material is selected from a class consisting of rubher and plastics.

4. A combination door pull and door stop for use in connection with sliding doors, said device being comprised of a stem portion and a body portion; said stem portion being adapted for rigid engagement with the face of at least a rearward of said sliding doors in a plane substantially perpendicular to the face of said door and at a point in close proximity to the outside edge of said door; said body portion being supported in a plane substantially parallel to the face of said door by said stem portion and being comprised of at least two contact surfaces horizontally disposed on opposite sides of said body portion, and a finger gripping portion within the horizontal extent of said contact surfaces.

, 5. A combination door piill and door stop according to claim 4 in which said contact surfaces are comprised of resilient materials.

6. A combination door pull and door stop according to claim 4 in which said stem portion is comprised of more than one element perpendicularly disposed with respect to the face of said door.

7. A combination door pull and door stop according to claim 4 in which said body portion is in the form of a regular geometric shape.

a 8. A combination door pull and door stop according to claim '7 in which said geometric shape is selected from a class consisting of crosses, circles and ovals, diamonds, squares and rectangles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1957 Gates.

4/1965 Dichiaro. 

1. IN A DOOR PULL ADAPTED FOR USE WITH SLIDING DOORS, COMPRISING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED BEARING SURFACES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INSIDE EDGE OF A FORWARD DOOR ON ONE OF SAID BEARING SURFACES AND THE DOOR JAMB ON THE OTHER OF SAID BEARING SURFACES, AND A SAFETY REGION DISPOSED WITHIN THE HORIZONTAL EXTENT OF SAID BEARING SURFACES, SAID SAFETY REGION BEING ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A GRIP FOR THE DIGITS OF THE HUMAN HAND AND TO PREVENT SUCH DIGITS FROM BEING CONTACTED BY SAID DOOR JAMB AND SAID INSIDE EDGE OF THE FORWARD DOOR WHEN THE DIGITS ARE ENGAGED IN GRIPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID DOOR PULL. 